>> TONIGHT ON "POINTS NORTH," WE GO BEHIND THE SCENES FOR A LOOK AT MOVIE MAKING IN THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM.

THEN WE'LL VISIT WITH MR.

FIX-IT.

AND A CONVERSATION WITH FORMER STATE SENATOR TOM CROWLEY.

>> FROM THE TOWN COMMON IN JERICHO CENTER I'M FRAN STODDARD.

>> I'M ROB MICHALAK.

WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF "POINTS NORTH".

>> SMALL TOWN COMMONS AND VILLAGE GREENS ARE TAKEN FOR GRANTED BUT THE LURE OF PEACEFUL SCENES LIKE THIS HAVE PROVEN PRODUCTION COMPANIES AND RECENTLY BROUGHT PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES AND EXCITEMENT TO THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM TOWN OF PEACH YAM.

TO MANY VERMONTERS THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM WOULD SEEM AN UNLIKELY PLACE BUT TUCKED AWAY IN THE HILLS BOTH HOLLYWOOD AND LOCAL PRODUCTIONS ARE MAKING REGULAR APPEARANCES.

>> ACTION.

>> THE 1986-87 WE HAD SIX FILMS IN VERMONT, FOUR OF WHICH WERE QUITE LARGE PRODUCTIONS IN TERMS OF CAST AND CREW BEING OVER 100 PEOPLE.

TWO OF THEM WORKED ON LIQUORS FOR 10 TO 12 WEEKS.

>> FOR FIVE WEEKS THIS SPRING AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION CALLED CARE OF THE SPITFIRE GRILL HAS BEEN SHOOTING OUTSIDE ST.

JOHNSBURY.

THEY TRANSFORMED THE TOWN OF PEACH YAM, VERMONT, INTO GILEAD, MAINE, WHICH IS WHERE THE STORY TAKES PLACE.

>> GILEAD WAS NOT PRESENTABLE IN ITS OWN WAY AS BEING A LOCATION.

IT DIDN'T FIT THE BILL AT ALL.

PART OF WHAT WE NEEDED OUT OF THE TOWN WAS IT HAD TO HAVE A BUILDING WE COULD MAKE INT A RESTAURANT IN THE CENTER OF TOWN AND HAD TO HAVE A SHERIFF'S OFFICE FROM WHICH YOU COULD SEE THE RESTAURANT AND A GENERAL STORE FROM WHICH YOU COULD SEE THE RESTAURANT.

>> IN CARE OF THE SPITFIRE GRILL ENVIRONMENT ELEMENTS LIKE PLACEMENT OF BUILDINGS AND THE WEATHER ARE VERY MUCH INTERTWINED IN THE STORY.

>> MY CHARACTER IS REAL NAME PER CHANCE TALBOT, GOES BY PERCY.

SHE'S HAD A PRETTY HARD HAND DEALT TO HER IN LIFE.

SHE SPENT TIME IN PRISON AND SHE GETS OUT OF PRISON AND IS STARTING HER LIFE OVER AGAIN IN THIS SMALL TOWN IN MAINE.

IT'S BEEN REALLY WONDERFUL WATCHING IT TURN FROM VERY BARREN WINTER AND THE SPRINGTIME JUST STARTING TO POP, AND IT'S VERY MUCH PART OF THE STORY AS WELL, WHICH IS -- WHEN YOU HAVE HAD A PRETTY DARK EXPERIENCE AND THROUGH HER INTEGRATION IN THIS TOWN SHE SORT OF BRINGS THE SPRING.

SORT OF STARTS BLOOMING HERSELF.

>> SHE GOES TO GILEAD AND GILEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER IS VERY CLOSED AND SHE MEETS WITH A HUGE AMOUNT OF INTOLERANCE.

IN A BROAD STROKE THIS IS A FILM ABOUT INTOLERANCE.

>> EVERYBODY STAY PERFECTLY STILL.

>> THE TOWN HAS BEEN VERY TOLERANT TO THE PRODUCTION CREW.

CAME UP WITH AN INTERESTING KIND OF LOCATION FEE.

>> THE THIRD DAY I WAS HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY I WENT TO A TOWN SELECTMAN'S MEETING.

ACTUALLY HUMOROUS.

ONE PERSON SAID I THINK THAT THE TOWN SHOULD SHARE IN THE NET PROFITS OF THIS MOVIE, YOU KNOW.

I STARTED TO ROLL MY EYES AND THE DUNCAN BOND, WHO WAS ONE OF THE SELECT MEN, SAID, I THINK THAT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN WOULD BE FOR THE PRODUCER TO GO TO THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND TEACH THE KIDS ABOUT FILM MAKING AND TEACH THEM, SHOW THEM WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

SO THAT WAS THE PRICE FOR SHOOTING IN PEACH YAM WAS ME GOING TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SO I DID THAT.

THE ENTIRE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAME BY AND GAVE ME A CARD AND FLOWER AND BIG HUG.

>> THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN OF PEACH YAM ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES FEELING THE IMPACT OF HAVING A FEATURE FILM IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE SPENT IN VERMONT IN THE MONTH OF APRIL.

WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1 MILLION IN PAYROLL AND HOUSING AND FOOD AND RENTALS.

>> EVEN A RELATIVELY SMALL PRODUCTION LIKE SPITFIRE HAS A VERY POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITIES AND EVEN THE NEARBY COMMUNITIES WHERE THE PRODUCTION IS LOCATED.

WE HAVE HIRED AS MANY LOCAL PEOPLE AS WE COULD.

MY PREMISE IS IF I HIRE A LOCAL PERSON THE MONEY THAT WOULD GO INTO A MOTEL GOES ON THE SCREEN.

MY JOB IS TO PUT AS MUCH MONEY AS I CAN ON THE SCREEN.

>> ULTIMATELY, WHAT GOES ON THE SCREEN IS WHAT REALLY MATTERS.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME DIRECTING A FEATURE FILM BUT HE'S NOT NEW TO WORKING ON PROJECTS FOR THE SMALLER SCREEN.

>> HE'S THE WRITER AND DIRECTOR.

LEE HAS 4 SOME REAL SUCCESS IN THE TELEVISION WORLD.

HE CREATED A SHOW CALLED McGIVER, WHICH IS A VERY SUCCESSFUL SHOW.

HE WAS INVOLVED WITH REMINGTON STEEL AS WRITER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, DIRECTED A COUPLE OF EPISODES.

HE'S A GUY OUT OF THE WORLD OF TELEVISION AND THIS IS HIS FIRST FEATURE FILM.

>> LEE SPOKE TO US ABOUT THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES OF TELEVISION AND FILM.

>> YOU SEE THINGS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF HOW YOU INSTRUCT YOUR AND PACE THEM.

ALSO WHEN YOU DO A PIECE OF TELEVISION YOU'RE AWARE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE SEEN ON THE SCREEN THAT'S ABOUT THIS BIG AND WHEN YOU'RE MAKING A MOVIE YOU GOT TO KEEP IN MIND IT'S GOING TO BE SEEN ON AN 80 FOOT SCREEN SOMEWHERE THAT COULD BE 25 FEET HIGH.

DIFFERENCES THAT YOU KEEP IN MIND IN TERMS OF THE VISUAL STYLE AND PACING OF THE PIECE.

TELEVISION, THE FIRST FEW MINUTES ARE VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE THOSE CLICKERS AND THEY JUST CHANGE THE CHANNEL IF THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY SEE.

MOVIE THEATER YOU HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO GET THE AUDIENCE TO THE INTO BECAUSE UNLESS THEY LOATHE WHAT YOU'RE DOING MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE PAID THEIR MONEY ARE GOING TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS N. A FUTURE YOU'RE FILM I THINK THE ENDING IS A LOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN IT IS A PIECE OF TELEVISION.

>> MARK.

ACTION.

>> ACTION.

>> FOR A TO BE EFFECTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE HAVE TO WALK OUT AT THE END OF THE MOVIE REALLY FEELING LIKE THEY HAVE HAD AN EXPERIENCE.

>> ONE OF THE REALLY POSITIVE IMPACTS OF HAVING THIS REGIONAL PRODUCTION GOING ON IS THAT IT HAS CREATED A VENUE IN VERMONT FOR A KIND OF ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE THAT HAS NOT BEEN THERE BEFORE.

IN THE LONG TERM I THINK THAT THAT WILL GROW AND WILL BE A BENEFIT TO THE VISIBILITY OF THE STATE IN GENERAL AS A PLACE FOR LOCATION PRODUCTION.

>> CUT!

>> THE PRODUCERS OF CARE OF THE SPITFIRE GRILL ARE PREPARING A SPECIAL SCREENING OF THE FINISHED FILM FOR THE LOCALITY COMMUNITY IN THE LATE FALL OF THIS YEAR.

LOOKS LIKE THE MOVIE WILL PROBABLY BE RELEASED THEY AT RICKLY IN THE SPRING OF 1996.

>> THE LOCAL GENERAL STORE IS FAST DISAPPEARING AND SO IS THE LOCAL HANDY MAN, BUT NOT MR.

FIX-IT.

SINCE JUMPING OFF THE CAREER TRACK INTO HIS OWN SERVICE DAVE RICHMOND HAS BEEN A HOMEOWNER'S DREAM COME TRUE.

IF ANYONE CAN FIX IT, MR.

FIX-IT CAN.

>> I HAVE BEEN MR.

FIX-IT FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS.

I DECIDED I WANT TO BE A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, WENT TO COLLEGE, GOT A DEGREE.

WORKED FOR I.B.M.

I DESIGNED SOME OF THEIR TOOLING AND TESTING EQUIPMENT AND IT WAS QUITE ENJOYABLE BUT I WAS ALWAYS WORKING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.

A FRIEND OF MINE MARK CIEWCHER WAS THE FIRST ONE TO SAY WHY ON EARTH AREN'T YOU WORKING FOR YOURSELF?

SO I AM.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO HERE IS CATCH A SKUNK DIGGING HOLES IN THE LAWN.

THEY GET IN THE TRAP AND YOU CAN'T GET TWO ANIMALS IN ONE TRAP.

FOR SKUNKS YOU NEED STUFF ON THE GROUND.

THEY LIKE CRISPY STUFF.

BIGGEST RACCOON I EVER CAUGHT WAS 60 POUNDS.

THE 60 POUNDER WAS THE MOST MELLOW, FRIENDLY, COURTEOUS RACCOON I HAVE EVER MET.

OH, HELLO THERE!

I'VE ALREADY BROUGHT THIS DOWN EARLIER.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF THIS, WHEN IT WORKS RIGHT, IS THE RACCOON FEELS SAFER HIDDEN AWAY.

SO AS LONG AS THERE'S SOMETHING FOR HIM TO HIDE BEHIND I CAN DO THIS.

ONCE I'VE GOT THIS TO HERE, THERE, NOW THERE AIN'T NOTHING HE CAN DO BUT GO INTO THERE UNTIL I DO THIS.

SUDDENLY HE'S EXPOSED.

COME ON, LITTLE FELLER!

OH, GEE WHIZ.

I HATE TO SACRIFICE THAT.

DONE.

99 TIMES OUT OF 100 SUCCESS.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IS LEAN THAT END AGAINST YOUR LEG.

YES, I'M MR.

FIX-IT.

I CAN DO ANYTHING.

[LAUGHTER] HI, GUY.

>> HE ANSWERED MY NEEDS.

I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A HANDY MAN.

DAVE SEEMS TO BE WILLING TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A HANDY MAN.

HE SEEMS TO BE WILLING TO DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

>> I DO ANYTHING.

BA BOO, STAY.

HELLO!

>> HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> NOT TOO BAD.

>> GOOD.

LOVELY DAY.

>> WE'LL STRETCH IT.

>> I CAN KEEP A HOUSE BUT I'M NOT AT ALL HANDY.

I DON'T WANT TO DO THOSE THINGS NOR DO I KNOW HOW.

I MUCH PREFER BEING ABLE TO CALL SOMEONE WHO IS ABLE TO DO THIS WHO IS RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE AND WHO WILL DO IT.

>> I DON'T SELL STUFF.

THAT'S ONE OF THE SECRETS OF MY SUCCESS.

ALL I SELL IS ME.

WITH A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK I'LL NEVER HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.

WE'RE PUTTING UP SOME VALENSS SO SHE CAN HANG SOME CURTAINS SO WE NEED TO START WITH THIS TO FIND OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THAT.

SEE WHERE WE HAVE BEEN WITH THE OTHER.

THEN WE'LL KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOI DOING.

OKAY!

GOT A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING IN HERE.

I'VE GOT TOOLS MOSTLY ON THIS SIDE AND STUFF THAT I USE THE TOOLS WITH OVER HERE.

THERE'S A LITTLE BOX WITH EXP EXPANDO HITCHIDODDLES, THAT SHOULD BE SOMEWHERE IN HERE.

BINGO.

THERE IT IS.

IF THEY ARE HARD TO GET IN THEY WILL BE HARD TO GET OUT, RIGHT?

$5 AN HOUR COLLEGE KID DOING PROFESSIONAL SPAK LINK.

I WOULD JUST BE SLAPPING THIS ON BECAUSE IT WOULD BE SOMEBODY ELSE'S JOB TO SAND IT NEXT DAY BUT I DON'T COME BACK THE NEXT DAY.

>> IN OUR NEXT SEGMENT "POINTS NORTH" ANN BARBANO TALKS TO SENATOR TOM CROWLEY IN THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF RECURRING SNAPSOTS.

>> 1967 WAS THE YEAR TOM WOULD BEGIN AS CHITTENDEN COUNTY STATE SENATOR, LETTER TO SERVE AS DEAN OF THE SENATE.

HE MADE HIS MARK AS CHAIRMAN OF THE POWERFUL SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE OVER SEAING STATE POLICE AND DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES.

HE WAS OUT OF OFFICE AFTER TWO DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED ARRESTS AND A BATTLE WITH ALCOHOL.

HE SAT DOWN TO TALK WITH ME ABOUT HIS TIME IN THE SENATE AND HOW ALCOHOL PAID A PIVOTAL ROLE IN HIS LIFE.

>> WHAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO YOUR MIND?

>> WHEN I COME BACK HERE?

>> YES.

>> A LONGING TO BE -- A LONG BE TO BE REALLY BE A SENATOR.

I SAT WHERE YOU'RE SITTING FOR 24 YEARS.

I MISS IT.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT GOES THROUGH HI MIND, IS I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE SEATS WITH SENATOR JACK BERRY, WHO SITS IN NUMBER 12 SEAT WHERE I SAT FOR SO LONG.

>> WHO WERE THE PEOPLE IN THE SENATE?

>> THERE WERE VERY FEW WOMEN.

THERE WERE A LOT OF ELDELL GENTLEMEN.

GENTLEMEN WHO HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN THE STATE SENATE IN POLITICS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THEN LATER TO THE SENATE.

I WAS 30 YEARS OLD WHEN I WAS ELECTED AND YOU HAD TO BE 30 TO RUN FOR THE SENATE IN THOSE DAYS.

I THINK I BROUGHT THE AVERAGE AGE DOWN TO LIKE 60.

SO THERE WERE NOT A BUNCH OF SCREAMING ROMPERS I CAN TELL YOU.

FOR THE FIRST TWO OR THREE MONTHS WHENEVER I WORE A GREEN JACKET THEY USED TO HAND ME OTES.

THOUGHT I WAS A PAGE BOY.

[LAUGHTER] AFTER A WHILE IT GOT CAUGHT ON AND CAUGHT ON AND BEFORE I KNEW IT I WAS DEAN OF THE SENATE.

HAD BEEN HERE THE LONGEST OF ANYBODY ELSE.

>> YOU WERE AN ALCOHOLIC AT THE TIME -- >> I WAS AN ACTIVE ALCOHOLIC.

I WAS DRINKING EVERY DAY.

MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND IN THE ADMINISTRATION WERE DRINKING EVERY DAY.

PROBABLY NO ONE AS MUCH AS I WAS.

BUT I WAS DRINKING.

I WAS DRINKING OUT OF CONTROL.

AND I JUST DIDN'T THINK THAT I HAD A PROBLEM.

BUT IT'S IRONIC THAT I WAS RESPONSE -- I WOULD SPONSOR THE ALCOHOL REHABILITATION PROGRAM AND I DID IT SELFISHLY BECAUSE UNDER THE OLD STATUTES WITH DUI IN VERMONT, YOUR FIRST OFFENSE YOU LOST YOUR LICENSE FOR A YEAR.

YOUR SECOND OFFENSE YOU LOST IT FOR THREE YEARS.

YOUR THIRD OFFENSE YOU LOST IT FOR LIFE.

END OF STORY.

UNLESS YOU COULD GET A GUBERNATORIAL PARDON.

I SELFISHLY SAID BECAUSE PROJECT CRASH GAVE ME 90 DAYS INSTEAD OF A YEAR, GAVE IT TWO YEARS INSTEAD OF THREE YEARS, THEN YOU NEVER LOSE IT FOR LIFE.

THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE WITH REHABILITATION YOU MIGHT GET YOUR LICENSE BACK.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD DEAL.

SO I WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO SPONSOR IT AND IT WAS HELPFUL THAT I DID BECAUSE I WAS CHAIRING THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, WHICH IN EFFECT DEALT WITH ALL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

SO I HAD A WHOLE TON OF FOLKS WHO WERE ENABLING ME TO LET ME DRINK CONTINUALLY OUT OF CONTROL.

THE FIRST BILL I PUT IN WAS A BILL THAT DISTINGUISHED YELLOW, RED, AND BLUE LIGHTS.

WHAT AGENCY WAS WHAT.

I USED TO BE TERRIFIED WHEN I WOULD DRIVE BACK FROM MONTPELIER AND SEE A RED LIGHT UP ON THE INTERSTATE.

IN THOSE DAYS IT COULD BELONG TO A FIRE TRUCK, TO AN PLANS, TO A POLICE CAR, TO A SNOWPLOW.

I PUT A BILL IN THAT MANDATED THAT ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT HAD BLUE LIGHTS, ALL OTHER EMERGENCY VEHICLES HAD RED LIGHTS, AND ALL SERVICE VEHICLES, SNOWPLOWS, WRECKERS, HAD YELLOW LIGHTS.

SO THEN WHEN I DROVE FROM MONTPELIER TO BURLINGTON AFTER HAVING DRANK QUITE A LOT IF I SAW A RED LIGHT I WOULD SAY, CHANCES ARE THE COPS AREN'T AROUND.

>> HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE TO BE AN EFFECTIVE SENATOR WHILE BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL?

>> WELL, BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T DRUNK DURING THE DAY FOR STARTERS.

A LOT OF THE CAMARADERIE AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES THAT WENT WITH BEING A SENATOR AND THE USE OF ALCOHOL WERE VERY, VERY COMPATIBLE TO ONE ANOTHER.

A LOT OF IMPORTANT THINGS GOT DONE OVER A FEW DRINKS AT THE HORSE ROOM HERE IN MONTPELIER, I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

>> THE DUI, CAN YOU GO BACK AND TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED?

>> YEAH.

IT WAS INTERESTING.

I WAS SEEING A LADY FRIEND WHO LIVED IN GEORGIA, VERMONT.

IT WAS A VERY DARK, RAINY NIGHT.

GOT MIXED UP NEAR WHERE HER RESIDENCE WAS AND I WENT TO TURN MY CAR AROUND AND I BACKED UP ON TO THE LAWN OF AN INVESTIGATOR FOR THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN CHITTENDEN.

I GOT STUCK.

SO I HAD TO GO TO THE DOOR TO ASK HIM TO CALL A TOW TRUCK.

HE RECOGNIZED ME AND FELT I GUESS THAT I WAS TOO IMPAIRED TO DRIVE SO HE CALLED THE STATE POLICE.

I FELT SORRY FOR THE POOR TROOPER, WAS A ROOKIE STATE COP OUT OF THE ST.

ALBANS BARRACKS.

YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T ANYTHING HE COULD DO.

I MEAN, AN ASSISTANT INVESTIGATOR FOR THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAD MADE A COMPLAINT AND CALLED THE POLICE, SO I WAS THE GUY IN A -- AND AWAY I WENT BACK TO THE ST.

ALBANS BARRACKS.

TOOK THE TEST AND PROMPTLY FLUNKED IT.

BUT I STILL WAS NOT IN POSITION TO THINK THAT I HAD A PROBLEM OR THAT I WAS GOING TO STOP DRINKING.

I PLEADED NOLO, PAID A GOOD, STIFF FINE, FLUNKED THE COURSE.

>> WERE YOU EMBARRASSED?

>> OF COURSE!

IT WAS TERRIBLE!

BUT I KEPT SMILING AND PUT UP A BIG FRONT, AND WALKED FOR 90 DAYS, DIDN'T HAVE TO WALK REALLY BECAUSE I WAS IN POSITION TO HAVE A DRIVER AND SO SO MUCH FOR THAT.

I JUST CONTINUED TO KEEP UP MY HABIT OF DRINKING DAILY AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW!

I GOT NAILED AGAIN.

A COUPLE YEARS LATER.

I MIGHT ADD I WAS EASILY REELECTED SHORTLY AFTER THAT FIRST DUI.

I WAS VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THAT.

SO THEN I SAID TO MYSELF, I GOT MORE VOTES THIS TIME THAN I DID THE TWO PREVIOUS YEARS.

SO I GOT TO BE INFALLIBLE.

SO IT CERTAINLY DIDN'T SLOW ME DOWN OR EVEN GIVE ME SECOND THOUGHTS ON THE AMOUNT OF MY USAGE OF ALCOHOL.

COUPLE YEARS LATER, I WENT INTO A STATE LIQUOR STORE TO BUY LIQUOR AND THE CLERK BEHIND THE COUNTER FELT THAT I WAS TOO INTOXICATED TO BE BUYING LIQUOR.

HE KNEW THAT I HAD DRIVEN THERE SO HE CALLED THE POLICE AND THEY PROMPTLY MET ME WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY ON IN MY CAR.

AWAY WE WENT T. WEEK-LONG TRIAL.

SLOW "NEWSWEEK," AND FRONT PAGE EVERY DAY.

CHANNEL 3, 4, 5 COVERING IT, RUTLAND HERALD SPECIAL REPORTER UP HERE.

BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL JUDGMENT MAHANYE PUT ME IN JAIL DID I REALIZE I HAD A PROBLEM.

THAT WAS MY BOTTOM.

RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

THANKSGIVING DAY, 1989.

I SAID, YOU CAN'T DRINK.

>> TOM, AS YOU LOOK BACK AT THOSE 24 YEARS, ARE YOU PROUD?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT WAS JUST SO MUCH FUN AND YOU CAN DO SO MUCH TO HELP SO MANY PEOPLE, MOST OF THEM NOT IN POSITION TO GET ANY HELP.

IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE TO ME WHETHER IT WAS THE PRESIDENT OF BLODGETT OVEN COMPANY OR A LADY WHO HAD MISSED HER WELFARE CHECK F. THERE WAS SOMETHING I COULD DO TO HELP THEM I DID.

A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLED ABOUT MOTOR VEHICLE DEPARTMENT PROBLEMS.

NO LICENSE PLATES, THE PLATES WERE WRONG, WRONG ADDRESS, WHATEVER, IT WAS EASY TO FIX.

YOU JUST DIDN'T TEMPERATURE YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT.

I LOVE TO HELP PEOPLE.

I STILL DO.

GIVES ME GREAT PERSONAL SATISFACTION.

SO I LOOK BACK VERY, VERY FONDLY AT 24 YEARS SITTING IN THE CHAIR YOU'RE SITTING IN.

YOU KNOW, GET THE FEELING IN THE PIT OF YOUR TUMMY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE BACK SOMEDAY.

WHO KNOWS?

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

WE HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF "POINTS NORTH."

>> NEXT WEDNESDAY WE'LL BE TAKING A RIDE ON THE GREEN MOUNTAIN RAILWAY.

>> WE'LL ALSO CHECK OUT SEVERAL OF THE AREA'S NEWEST MICRO-BREWERIES AND LOOK BACK AT ONE OF VERMONT'S GREATEST NATURAL DISASTERS, THE DEVASTATING FLOOD OF 1927.

>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "POINTS NORTH" -- SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!

>> FOR MORE CLASSIC PROGRAMS,